Bag content dispenser



NOV- l95 B. STAHMER BAG CONTENT DISPENSER Filed April 2l, 1950- United States Patent BAG CONTENT DISPENSER Bernhardt Stahmer, Omaha, Nebr.

Application April 21, 1950, Serial No. 157,200

7 Claims. (Cl. 222-100) This invention relates to the dispensing of the contents of bags and more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide a holder for such a bag for use during dispensing.

In the past, the chief problem in marketing many liquid and semi-liquid products has been the cost of the container. A container of little cost can be made in the form of a ilexible bag having sealed ends.

Such bags are collapsible and can be rolled or squeezed at one end in order to force the contents thereof out of an opening at the other end. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a holder which is adapted to form a rigid framework for such bags whereby the holder can be grasped during emptying of the contents of the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag holder as described which is further provided with means for rolling up one end of the bag.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder as described which is provided with slidably mounted means for squeezing one end of such a bag to cause its contents to exude from the other end.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a holder as described which is adapted to surround a bag for providing a device of attractive appearance, the holder being openable for permitting the removal of an empty bag and the insertion of a full one.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an openable holder having two pivotally connected parts.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder as described which is further provided with means for automatically maintaining the edges of an opening in the bag closed except at times when the opening closure is overcome by the force of the contents being exuded from the bag.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a bag opening closure member which latter is adapted to exert a pressure against the sides of the opening of the bag except at times when the said member is pressed into an open position by the operator.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bag opening closure assembly including a member slidably attached to the holder and adapted to engage those portions of the bag which are disposed adjacent an opening in the bag and further including a spring for holding the slidable member against the bag.

Still a further object of the invention resides in the provision of a holder having a rough surface which is adapted to engage and hold securely the upper end of a bag being emptied.

Yet yanother object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose described which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble and utilize.

Another object is to provide a holder having a rough surface for holding securely the lower end of the bag.

A further object is to provide a bag housing having an 2,769377 Patented Nov. 6, 1956 outer surface disposed at an angle, approximately fortyve degrees, with respect to the length of the bag, the surface having an opening therethrough for receiving the side walls of a bag opening.

Another object is to provide a bag holder having resilient means for pinching the walls of a bag opening shut, the resilient means being overcomeable by the force of the contents exuding from the bag.

A further object resides in the provision of means operable from the outside of a bag housing for causing the contents of the bag to exude through an opening therein.

Other and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a frontal elevation of a bag holder of this invention, a portion being broken away to show the bag therein.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure l, the roller for rolling the bag at its lower end being best seen in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modification of the holder of Figure 2. The modification of Figure 3 is similar in most respects with the exception that the holder of Figure 3 has a slidably mounted bag-squeezing member rather than a roller.

Figure 4 is a view-in-section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and shows the manner in which the bag is held between the adjoining portions of the lower end of the holder, the bag also being held between the oppositely disposed portions of the upper end of the holder.

Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 2, the view of Figure 5 having a portion of the cover broken away for showing the manner in which a bagengaging slidable member is disposed therein.

Figure 6 is a view-in-section taken along line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of an upper right hand corner of a modified bag holder of this invention. The bag holder of Figure 7 can be similar to that of Figure 2 or similar to that of Figure 3 in other respects. The bag holder of Figure 7 is provided with a lever which is adapted to pinch against and maintain sealed the sides of a bag opening.

Figure 8 is a View-in-section taken along the line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a frontal elevation of an upper central of a modication of the bag holder shown in Figure l. The modilication of Figure l0 includes a single spring member adapted to close the bag opening.

Figure 10 is a view-in-section taken along the line 10-10 of Figure 9.

As best seen in Figure l, the holder lof this invention preferably includes a casing or housing generally indicated at 10. The housing 10 is preferably provided with two hollow half portions 12 and 14.

The half portions 12 and 14 are movably secured together by means comprising a pivot pin 16 extending through apertures in the bottom of each of the half portions. The pin 16 thus extends through ears 18, one of which latter is seen in Figure l, each ear 18 is disposed overlapping a portion of the opposite half portion 12 of the outer housing.

Each half housing portion 12 and 14 is provided with an outwardly ared lower portion 20, which lower portions together form a base. The under surfaces of the lower ends of the half porti-ons 12 and 14 or the portion which has been termed the base, are shaped to support the housing 10 in an upright position on a horizontal surface when the housing 10 is in a bag-holding position to be later described. The members 12 and 14 are each provided with flat edge surfaces 26 which are adapted to engage each other for completely surrounding a hollow interior 30.

At the upper end of the housing the half portion 12 is provided with two outstanding lugs 40 and a clasp 42 is provided being pivotally secured between the lugs 40 by means of a pin 46. The clasp 42 bends upwardly and then downwardly across the upper edges of the half portions 14 and 12.

The half portions 12 and 14 are tapered at their upper ends to a line. The outer end of the clasp 42 is provided with an inwardly protruding portion 44 which latter is for the purpose of engaging in receiving means or a notch 48 in the opposite half portion 14 of the housing 10.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the pivot pin 16 and ears 18 provide a hinge connection at the lower ends of the housing half portions 12 an-d 14. Clamping means comprising the clasp 42 pivotally secured to the half portion 12 by means of the pin 46 through ears 40 and the receiving means or notch 48, disposed in the opposite half portion 14, in which the outer end 44 of the clasp 42 engages, presents releasable securing means for locking the housing in an operating position. Upon release of the clasp member 42, the two half portions 12 and 14 are free to be moved outwardly away from each other pivoting about the pin 16 whereby the hollow interior 30 of the housing 10 is readily accessible to the operator.

As best seen in Figure 2, the above described construction provides a frame or holder the purpose of which is for receiving a collapsible bag 50. The bag 50 is provided with end portions secured to each other. Such end portions form a relatively thin end 52 of the bag. Such ends are often crimped together, and form flat edge portions at the top and bottom of the bag 50.

Means for compressing the collapsible bag 50 is provided f-or forcing the contents of the bag outwardly thereof and is in the form of a roller 60.

The crimped end 52 of the bag 50 is adapted to be placed in a slot 56 in the roller 60 which latter is itself disposed through a slot 70, best seen in Figures 2 and 3. The slot 70 extends longitudinal-ly of the holder, extending upwardly for the purpose of permitting the roller 60 to move upwardly as the bag 50 is rolled up. The roller 60 is provided with an annular notch 72 therein for the purpose of being snugly received between the longitudinal walls of the slot 70.

The roller 60 is provided with a knurled knob 76 on one end. The knob 76 protrudes outwardly of the holder 10 whereby it can be easily grasped for rolling. The opposite end of the roller 60 is preferably received between two parallel, vertical, inwardly extending spaced apart trackway wall portions 80, best seen in Figures l and 2.

The tracks 80 extend upwardly and downwardly of the interior wall of the holder and each track 80 is attached to a different housing portion 12 and 14 of the holder. The purposes of the tracks 80 are for the reception of the opposite end of the roller 6) for guiding the latter in upward and downward directions during rolling.

The upper end of the holder 10 is provided with an inclinedly disposed surface indicated at 82.

The surface 82 is inclinedly disposed with respect to the plane of the bottom side of the base 20 and with respect to the vertical at approximately a forty-tive degree angle with respect to the vertical and to the bottom of the base 20. The surface 82 is flat and is composed of portions of the two cover portions 12 and 14.

As best seen in Figure 5, the half portion 14 is provided with an opening 90 therethrough. The opening 90 is elongated and is disposed in parallelism with the joint between the half portions 12 and 14. The opening 90 is for receiving the outermost end or edges of a cut-off portion of the bag 50. The cut otf portion is best seen in Figure 3.

The cut-olf portion is formed by cutting at approximately a forty-tive degree angle with respect to the length of the bag across the corner for providing two terminal edges 92. The edges 92, being unjoined, are adapted to separate from each other in response to internal pressure in the bag, forming an opening between them through which the contents of the bag 50 can be squeezed.

As best seen in Figure 5, the edges 92 are squeezed together for sealing the opening therebetween by means of a slidably mounted member having outwardly extending proirusions 102. The protrusions 102 are adapted to slide back and forth in elongated notches 106 which latter are best seen in Figure 5. The notches 106 are for the purpose of guiding the protrusions 102 whereby the member 100 can move only in directions toward or away from the edges 92.

The slidable member 102 is forced against the edges 92 by means of a spring 110.

The spring 110 is provided with a center portion disposed close to the back edge of the member 102. The spring 110 is provided with outer end portions disposed spaced apart from the back edge of the member 102. As thus described it will be seen that the spring 110 forces the slidable member 102 against the edges 92 for maintaining the bag-opening edges in closed position.

As best seen in Figure 6, the slidable member 100 is adapted to move back and forth in a hollow portion 108 in the side housing portion 14 of the device. When the contents 114 of the bag 50 are caused to exude outwardly through the opening provided by a cut made at 92 across the collapsible bag 50, the pressure of the contents 114 is sufficient to overcome the strength of the spring 110. At times when the collapsible bag 50 is not being compressed, the tension `of the spring 110 is suicient to cause the edges 92 of .the bag 50 to be closed.

As best seen in Figure 3, at least one of the uppermost oppositely disposed edges of the two sides 12 and 14 is provided with a rough bag pinching surface having a plurality of pointed protrusions. The rough bag pinching surface 120 is to facilitate the gripping of the uppermost flat edge end portion of the bag 50. The uppermost ends of bags are usually held together by various means such as by the crimping shown in Figure 3.

Also shown in Figure 3 is a modified means for compressing the collapsible bag 50. The means shown in Figure 3 comprises a slidably mounted bag squeezer 130. The bag squeezer has two spaced apart horizontal side portions 132. The side portions 132 are provided with outwardly flared upper edges 134. The edges 132 are outwardly ared so that the bag 50 is not snagged or ruptured during a passage of the member 130 upwardly over the bag 50.

At its ends the member 130 has two knobs 136. The side walls 12 and 14 of the outer housing are provided in the modification of Figures 3 and 4 with two longitudinal slots 136 having walls 138. The member 130 is provided with a portion 142 having a thickness for being snugly but slidably receivable between the walls 138 whereby the member 130 is adapted to slide upwardly and downwardly in the housing formed by the members 12 and 14', and so that the weight of liquid contents in the bag 50 will not push downwardly on the Imember 130.

The members 12 and 14 of the modifications of Figures 3 and 4 are outwardly ilared at their lower end as best seen at in a similar manner to base 20. Also the base 150 of the modification of Figures 3 and 4 is pivotally connected in the same manner as that of the modification of Figure 1, an illustration thereof not being repeated in Figures 3 and 4.

As best seen in Figure 4 in cross-section, one of the oppositely disposed walls 152 of the base portion 150 is preferably rough similarly to the rough surface providing a bag pinching surface 120 for facilitating the gripping of the lowermost end of the bag 50.

As best seen in Figure 7, a further modification is there areas?? illustrated. The modification of Figure 7 is to illustrate another type of resilient means for maintaining the bag opening edges 92 pressed against each other except at times when the bags contents are being removed.

The modification of Figure 7 consists of a lever 160. The lever 160 is provided with ears 162 on its underside for receiving a pin 164. The pin 164 is further disposed through tabs 166 whereby the member 160 is pivotally secured in place beneath the lever 160 and on the inner side thereof a substantially V-shaped spring 170 is provided.

The spring 170 is adapted to cause the outermost end 172 of the lever 160 to be pressed against the edges 92 of the bag 50. Opposite the lever 172, is an edge 174 of the half portion 14" of the modification of Figures 7 and 8. The housing portion 12 of Figure 8 has an opening 176 for receiving the lever 160.

It will be seen that pressure on the inner end of the lever 160 will cause its outer end 172 to release the edges 92 of the bag opening for permitting its contents to exude outwardly.

As best seen in Figure 9 a further modification of the bag opening-closing means is there shown. In Figure 9 two housing portions 190 and 192 are shown. The latter are secured to the housing portions 12 and 14 with the exception that the housing portion 190 on the left hand side is provided with a notch 194 therein facing the oppositely disposed housing portion 192.

In the notch 194 a spring 196 is provided and the spring 196 is imbedded at one of its ends in the housing portion 190. The other end of the string 196 extends outwardly and lis adapted to engage those portions of the bag 50 which extend through the notch 194.

This invention has provided a device for greatly facilitating the use of a more economical iiexible bag as a container for fluid foods. It has provided a device for supporting a bag during the dispensing of its contents for facilitating the emptying of the bag, and for maintaining the bag opening in closed position except during dispensing of its contents.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a bag content dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly Well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modiiication without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice, except as claimed.

I claim:

l. A device for dispensing the contents of a iiexible bag having an opening therein comprising: an outer housing having two hollow portions disposed opposite each other for receiving said bag therein, at least one of said portions having a rough surface disposed opposite the other of said port-ions for receiving against said rough surface one end of said bag, one of said housing portions having another rough surface disposed spaced apart from said first rough surface and opposite the other portion of said housing for receiving therebetween the other end of said bag, securing means pivotally attaching said housing portions together for the opening apart thereof; a clasp removably securing said portions in closed position; means attached to said housing for holding and supporting said bag at one of its ends; a member slidably secured to said housing for movement between said rough surfaces, said member having a slot for receiving the other end of said bag, said member having a knob disposed extending outwardly of said housing; and means attached to said housing for maintaining the walls of said bag opening in closed position.

2. A device for dispensing the contents of an elongated flexible bag, said bag having an opening at one end thereof disposed at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with respect to the length of said bag, said device comprising: an outer housing having two hollow portions disposed opposite each other for receiving said bag therein, said housing having an outer surface portion provided with `an opening therethrough disposed for receiving the edges of the walls of said bag opening, securing means pivotally attaching said housing portions together for the opening apart thereof; a clasp removably securing said portions in closed position; means attached to said housing for holding and supporting said bag at one of its ends; means secured to said housing for holding said bag at its other end, said bag holding means being disposed for holding said bag in a position such that the edges of its opening are parallel with respect to said housing surface; and means secured to said housing for causing the contents of said bag to exude through said opening.

3. A device for holding a flexible bag comprising: an outer housing having two hollow portions disposed opposite each other for receiving said bag therein, the under surfaces of the lower ends of said housing portions being shaped for supporting said device upright on a horizontal surface at times when said housing portions are in a bag holding position, said housing portions each having upper and lower bag pinching surfaces respectively, said upper bag pinching surfaces being cooperatively disposed opposite each other for pinching the upper end of said bag, said lower bag pinching surfaces being cooperatively arranged opposite each other for pinching the lower end of the bag, means securing said housing portions together in a manner permitting said housing portions to be moved toward and away from each other for the clamping therein and the removal therefrom of said bag, and means for holding said housing portions in a clamping relationship with respect to said bag for pinching said bag between said upper and said lower pinching surfaces respectively.

4. The construction defined in claim 3 in which said means for movably securing said housing portions together comprises a hinge connection between said housing portions at the lower ends thereof.

5. A device for holding a flexible bag of a type having at edge portions at the top and bottom thereof, said device comprising: a frame having an undersurface shaped in a manner for supporting said frame in an upright position at times when said frame is disposed on a horizontal surface, and upper and lower releasable pinching means connected to upper and lower portions of said frame respectively, said releasable pinching means each having two oppositely disposed pinching surfaces horizontally movable with respect to each other toward and away from bag pinching positions for pinching on the top and bottom liat edge portions of said bag respectively.

6. The construction defined in claim 5 in which a movable bag compressing means is provided for causing the bag to be compressed, said compressing means being movably attached to said frame for vertical movement thereon.

7. The construction defined in claim 3 in which said means for holding said housing portions in clamping relationship comprises a resilient clasp member having one end pivotally secured to one of said housing portions and receiving means on said other housing portion engageable by the other end of said resilient clasp member for clasping.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,122,096 Fitchett Dec. 22, 1914 1,613,761 Luhan Ian. 11, 1927 1,680,994 Karpe Aug. 14, 1928 1,688,512 Walker Oct. 23, 1928 1,828,154 Siqveland Oct. 20, 1931 (Other references on following page) 7 UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Behm Dec. 29, 1931 Newcomer et a1 Oct. 17, 1933 Lacher Feb. 6, 1934 Harnish Oct. 30, 1934 Peddie et al. Nov. 3, 1936 Salsberg Aug. 2, 1938 Maxfield Feb. 7, 1939 Schymizek Mar. 7, 1939 Smith Oct. 17, 1939 Sturm June 17, 1940 8 Weisberger Aug. 6, 1940 Waters Apr. 28, 1942 Reed et a1. Mar. 6, 1945 Fuston July 20, 1948 McGrath June 20, 1950 Slaby et a1. May 6, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 28, 1906 Germany Dec. 19, 1938 Great Britain Apr. 7, 1944 

